South Africa: Inflation hits 10-month high in July
Consumer prices rose 0.8% from a month earlier in July, twice as fast as June’s 0.4% month-on-month increase. July’s reading was driven largely by rising household and utility costs, while higher fuel costs contributed marginally. As such, core consumer prices—which exclude food and energy prices—rose 0.6% from a month earlier.
Inflation climbed to 5.1% from 4.6% in June, matching analysts’ expectations as higher fuel costs and the weak rand hit consumers. Meanwhile, core inflation ticked up to 4.3% from 4.2% in June. For its part, annual average inflation edged higher to 4.6% from 4.5%.